2016 NFL Draft Profile: Nick Martin, C Notre Dame

Notre Dame center Nick Martin could be a hot draft prospect during the 2016 NFL Draft, but should the Minnesota Vikings be checking him out?

There is a lot to love about Nick Martin. The center from Notre Dame has proven himself to be one of the best centers in the 2016 NFL Draft with the ability to play at either guard position as well. Football fans may be familiar with his older brother Zack, who plays for the Dallas Cowboys.

Players don’t get any more aggressive than Nick Martin. He physically assaults defenders, making them intimidated and is a game-changer in the trenches. Martin climbs the ladder well, showing intelligence by moving through the levels of the defense sealing running lanes while keeping a low center of gravity.

On the other hand, there are some issues with Martin’s game. His levels of aggressiveness and eagerness to attack make him prone to penalties. That is a problem that seemed to only get worse after a serious knee injury. Balance is also an issue when not attacked head on. In addition, he needs to improve his ability to follow stunts and blitzes.

Here are Notre Dame center Nick Martin’s numbers from the events at the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine according to NFL.com:

Jan 30, 2016; Mobile, AL, USA; North squad offensive guard Nick Martin of Notre Dame (72) in the second half of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

Height: 6’4″

Weight: 299 pounds

Arm Length: 32 1/2″

Hand Size: 9 3/4″

40 Yard Dash: 5.22 seconds

Bench Press: 28 reps

Vertical Jump: N/A

Broad Jump: 97″

3 Cone Drill: 7.57 seconds

20 Yard Shuttle: 4.72 seconds

Nick Martin compares to:

CBS Sports: Alex Mack, Falcons
NFL.com: John Sullivan, Vikings

Fit for the Minnesota Vikings:

With injuries and age a huge concern at center for the Vikings, they could be looking for a long-term answer at the position. Sullivan’s back is still in question and Berger is another year older, but backups Nick Easton and Zac Kerin on the roster, Minnesota may hope the team already has potential replacements on their roster.

Next: 5 WR options for the Vikings in the 2016 NFL Draft

My Take:

If Nick Martin is still available when the Minnesota Vikings are on the clock in round 2 of the 2016 NFL Draft, they should be highly considering him. The biggest question in measuring how much value he has will be the status of his knee, and how the team feels about it going forward. Otherwise, being able to be a backup and learn behind guys like Sullivan and Berger would be great for a young center who might be forced to play sooner than expected if the Vikings select him and Sullivan’s back continues to be a problem.

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